A Spiritual Father

I love being a Dad.  Now, I may question the sanity of that statement during those times of no sleep and cleaning up after sick kids, but the overall role of being a father is rewarding.  As a father, I have a unique responsibility to shape the children under my care to be the best follower of Christ they can be.  It is not my job to be their friend.  It is my job to train them in righteousness and prepare them to be an arrow in the hands of a mighty warrior (Psalm 127:4).

In the same way we need an earthly father, we need a spiritual father.   Paul tells the church in Corinth, “For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers.  For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” (1 Corinthians 4:15).  We have several people within the church that encourage and help us but we all need someone who is an authority in our Christian walk to show us the way and hold us accountable to that way. 

The reason Paul tells them this is because he was calling out those who were leading people astray.  They were teaching knowledge without action and power.  He says, “For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.” (1 Corinthians 4:20).  The proof of discipleship is not in knowledge but in action.  Disciples are not those who just have a lot of knowledge.  Disciples are those who live the mission left to us by Christ.  Knowledge can help with that mission, but it is not the goal.  Let us not judge our maturity as a believer by what we know.  It must be judged by what we do.  Make sure you have a spiritual father in your life who is challenging you to live in power.

James 1:22, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”